Les Bowen

STAFF WRITER

Les Bowen has covered the Eagles since 2002. Before that, he covered the Flyers for 13 years. He came to the Daily News from the Charlotte Observer in May 1983, just as the Sixers were winning the NBA championship. He thought, "Gosh, this sort of thing must happen all the time here."

The Eagles announced they have traded sixth-round rookie fullback Charles Scott to the Arizona Cardinals for cornerback Jorrick Calvin. Calvin was selected one pick after the Eagles chose Scott in the sixth round.

Calvin (5-11, 184) transferred to Troy University in 2008 after spending two seasons at East Central Community College. He started 12 of 13 games at cornerback that season, totaling 76 tackles and a pair of interceptions, with nine pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a pair of fumble recoveries. Calvin missed his senior season for academic reasons -- apparently there was a situation involving deaths in his family and a missed exam.

Calvin also handled the return duties, leading the Sun Belt Conference with 25.7 kickoff return average on 27 returns, including one returned 95 yards for a touchdown. He also averaged 9.9 yards on 15 punt returns, and returned a blocked field goal 65 yards for a touchdown.

Cards fullback Nehemiah Broughton recently tore an ACL and is down for the season, so Scott, who almost certainly wasn't going to make the Eagles' 53-man roster, would seem to have a much better opportunity there.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman said the Birds had Calvin in as one of their 30 predraft visits and had followed his career for quite a while.

"He was a kick returner and a punt returner at Troy. We'll give him an opportunity to do that here as well. It was an opportunity, for someone we had a high grade on at an important position, to give him a look," Roseman said.

Unless someone really good pops loose in roster cuts this weekend, Scott's departure probably settles the suspense over whether hard-working Eldra Buckley makes the team. Buckley is a running back who can also play fullback.

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Eagles coach Andy Reid was asked today by the Daily News about Donovan McNabb's recent comments in GQ, alluding to what McNabb felt was a lack of support from the Eagles' organization, when he was being criticized.

"From the top of the organization on down, I just think everybody loved having Donovan here, respected him and supported him," Reid said. "We'll always have a special place in our heart for Donovan McNabb and the things he's done for this organization."

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Defensive end Trent Cole spoke to reporters today for the first time since suffering an ankle sprain in Friday's preseason victory at Kansas City.

"I'm all right," Cole said, affirming that he expects to be able to play in the Sept. 12 season opener against Green Bay.

Cole said he was injured making a tackle, and initially was in considerable pain.

"I sat down (in his stance), and when I went to go make the tackle, if you were watching real closely, my ankle folded in. It hurt so bad, my whole body kind of went limp. You could see the (ballcarrier) just went right by me ... If hurt so bad, it was very painful. I was kind of out of it for a little bit," Cole said. "Going into the next play, I didn't even get into a stance. I finally made it off the field after the play.

"I was kind of worried and scared, getting taken to get X-rays and MRIs and everything, and everything came out good, so I'm all right. Just 'dinged.' "